Greetings from a wet Ireland

10 July ‘10
Saturday!
Good day to all, Family and Friends!!!!

A mist rain is the forecast for today with heavier rain later in the day, although very pleasant! It comes to mind that our summer existed of 6 weeks bliss and as in ’06,’07,’08,’09 that rain might be a dominant factor for the rest of the summer!
We are just back from shopping, no, not food, that we do only every 10-14 days but to construct a new nursery for the goslings!
Also some railway sleepers as we want to change the format of the garden and best to start now and have everything ready for early spring and summer! And even have some pleasure out of it for late summer and autumn!
The garden has been a feast for the eye, the tiger lilies are in full bloom 4 on one stem and there are about 12-14 plant, just too beautiful! The petunias struggle a bit with all the rain but get new life every time the sun does make an appearance! Our tomato plants have the tomatoes but the problem is to get the tomatoes to grow bigger and get colour!!!
I just devoured 5 enormous shining strawberries picked about 1hour ago! Very delicious! The old strawberries plants which were discarded against the fence early this year are giving us a tremendous amount of pleasure once again! This is the 4th year we are having fruit from them!
The new plants we bought last year are the Garden show is even better! Excellent fruit!
The roses are still very lovely and we are enjoying the beauty of every flower! The dark blue nearly purple Clematis against the pink of the climbing rose with sweet peas in between is lovely and bright!
All the gladiolas are up and they usually provide long stems filled with flowers! Can’t wait!
About 3 years ago, for those who do not remember, I cultivated some orange trees from pips, last year we put them outside and they flourished and then something started to eat them and they all died! Diligently I started again early March with the pips from my grapefruits and oranges(I am addicted to them) the old fashioned method of germination in a saucer and cotton wool, 5 of them are now about 2 cm high and 7 germinated ones planted directly into the garden and 5 more in the saucer ! I talk them every day and encourage growth and love! Barry has declared me insane!
Garden birds consists of mothers feeding the young, we should charge them for the worms that are being removed from our garden! Great to see the young birds flap their wings begging for food!
I am on Holiday for a full 10 days!!!! Had all wonderful plans ,for if the SUN shines With the Labour relations Court intervention we are due to go back to original hours less 5% and original pay less 5% from the 19th July, in order to avoid a full scale strike.
We had it in mind to go to Sligo so that I can get my feet wet with sea water as well as a visit to one of our favourite places Carrick on Shannon!
With the soccer coming to an end the Vuvuzela’s has made their way to Ireland in full scale! For the young, the annual Pop Concert weekend called OXYGEN is on and they live in tents and plod around in the mud for fun! According to the News presenter every tent are in possession of a Vuvuzela and there are 75,000 people in attendance!!!

We are presently touring through France with the cyclists and the map! Beautiful country side! Would like to go and tour there in person one day God willing Also spending some time in Scotland, looking at the golf!
My Birthday book announces that Pauli(presently in Hoedspruit ) will be a year older on the 13th! Have a good day Pauli!!!
For those who are not interested, Exit now!
The story of our Livestock!
The goslings are 10 days old and have more than doubled in size; They eat continuously and are very cute! One of them has a black line from his eye continuing onto his/her beak which indicate a little Toulouse in him which comes from his/her father who has the black spot on the wings! We did not sex them!
They have their own personalities and follow the mother in everything and she guides them with subtle cluck noises. They will have to be moved to another pin and that was what the purchases were all about this morning! We plan to construct an A-frame house which will protect them from rain and keep them separate from the other geese! We took a chance yesterday to let them out of the ‘nursery’ in the afternoon. There was jubilation and a lot of flapping of wings and a welcome like none for the 7 goslings from Scruffie, Ruthie and Mary who got off her eggs for her daily graze and water, everything settled down and we thought, well , so far- so good and suddenly Prince Scruffie decided this is a threat and he better get rid of them quick, he grabbed one of the little ones by the head and were about to start shaking it when our screams let him go of the gosling and we quickly had to separate the little ones and their mother from the other geese, realising that they are still too small to be let out!!! The gosling was fine and they scurried as fast as their little legs could carry them back into their shelter! We have to prepare the ‘nursery’ for the next lot which will be hatching in less than 3 weeks. The geese and goslings have been occupying our whole life! You constantly have to monitor them watch for any problems, sickness or weaknesses. They are not allowed to get wet until they develop proper feathers! Also not allowed to swim yet although they do get into the drinking dish and sit there in the water sometimes 3 at a time! Any-one who wants to see these goose children of ours let me know and I forward updated pictures!
It has been the best therapy for Barry, he has no time to feel sorry for himself after the angiogram!
Our grandson Lukas grows as fast as the goslings! He is a lovely child and we hope to have them over next weekend! I get an update of what he looks like about 2x a week! I boast of course like ever grandmother does and show the pictures to all at work! They love to see how he develops!
While down in the bottom field yesterday afternoon, a ‘horse fly’ stung me this is the 3rd time in 4 weeks and every time I re-act more violently than the previous time! Erythema appears 5cm in diameter and at least 1cm in height, red, hot and very itchy as well as burning like fire! I am scared that one day I will not have enough time to get to my antihistamine in time! Or it will take too long to start working! Will have to get some Solu Cortef Injection to keep at home for the reaction I cannot cope with! Dr is too far away for such emergencies. Who else is this allergic in the family?
Suddenly the heavens opened and Barry had to rush outside to get the little ones into the shed! So that was their outing for the day!
Tomorrow is Sunday, the best day of the week nourishment for the soul and I still play the organ! All Hymns and Psalms practised well!
I have nothing more to say except that a photo of Isabelle will be appreciated!
Do take care
Lots of love and regards
Barry and Christina in Cranleymore